Proposed Vikings signing lands former $21M Bills starter after bypassing need in NFL draft

After passing on some glaring needs in the defensive secondary in the 2025 NFL Draft — and every defensive position until Day 3, for that matter — GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Minnesota Vikings could find themselves dipping back into the free agent pool to add depth at positions like cornerback and safety.

The good news? That free agent pool remains pretty deep, especially at cornerback.

As it stands, the Vikings will be rolling with a giant question mark at that position outside of Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers, who was added from the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. Guys like Mekhi Blackmon, Dwight McGlothern, Ambry Thomas and Jeff Okudah could all be in the mix for reps come training camp, but that’s an unproven group overall.

Minnesota already ranks among the NFL’s biggest spenders in free agency this year, and if it wants to continue its splurge, former Buffalo Bills starter Rasul Douglas would be a perfect fit, per Ryan Smith of PFF. “The Vikings will need to replace Stephon Gilmore, and Douglas is a natural fit in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme,” Smith wrote. “Minnesota had just five draft picks in the draft, and none were used on a defensive back, suggesting the team was confident it could address its cornerback depth through free agency.”

Douglas, 29, had a down year for Buffalo in 2024, which is probably why he remains unsigned now more than a week removed from the NFL draft. Most notably, he scored a brutal 51.6 grade in coverage from PFF.

He’s been a solid boundary corner throughout his eight-year pro career, however, racking up 19 total interceptions and 51 pass breakups. He could get back to his playmaking ways with Minnesota, as the Vikings are set to deploy one of the most formidable defensive front sevens in football this season.

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The market value on Douglas is steep, according to Spotrac’s projections. He’s expected to make around $12 million on a one-year deal. The Vikings likely aren’t biting at that number, as they could still bring back a more familiar player, like Shaq Griffin, at a lower rate. But if Douglas is open to a cheaper prove-it deal, he could be this year’s version of Gilmore to help Minnesota solidify the depth chart for Flores.

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